US Congressman Renews Call For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

A United States Congressman, John James, has renewed his call for the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, linking the separatist leader’s continued incarceration to what he described as religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria.

James, a Republican representing Michigan, made the appeal on the floor of the US House of Representatives on while urging lawmakers to support H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026.

The resolution, which is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urges the Nigerian government to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with the country’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.

Addressing fellow lawmakers, James alleged that Nigeria had become the world’s deadliest country for Christians, claiming that tens of thousands had been killed since 2019 in what he described as a sustained campaign of religious violence by Islamist extremists.

“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” he said.

He further alleged that extremist groups, including Boko Haram, continued to operate with little or no effective response from Nigerian authorities.

James also criticised Kanu’s conviction on terrorism charges, describing the trial as a “farce show trial” and portraying the IPOB leader as someone punished for speaking out against the killings.

According to him, Kanu, who is serving a life sentence, should either be granted a fresh trial conducted in line with Nigeria’s Constitution and international legal standards or be released unconditionally.

“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, H.Res. 1321, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution based on evidence with access to legal counsel, medical care, and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” James said.

The congressman also questioned continued American financial assistance to Nigeria, saying the US should not continue funding a country where Christians were allegedly being persecuted.

“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” he said, adding that the United States had a moral responsibility to ensure Christians in Nigeria could worship freely.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja after Justice James Omotosho found him guilty on terrorism-related charges.

The IPOB leader has remained in custody following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 and subsequent transfer to Nigeria.

James’ resolution also references a July 20, 2022 opinion by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Kanu’s detention violated international human rights standards and recommended his release alongside appropriate remedies.